MRI: Acquisition of a Multicollector Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer and Laser System for Investigating the Evolution of the Earth's Climate, Oceans, and Tectonics

该奖项提供资金用于购买新的激光烧蚀多收集器电感耦合等离子体质谱系统(LA-MC-ICPMS)，该系统将并入德克萨斯州农工大学扩建的肯·威廉姆斯放射性同位素地球科学实验室。该仪器将由德州农工大学、国际海洋发现计划、德州农工大学科珀斯克里斯蒂和德州农工大学加尔维斯顿的一个跨学科研究小组使用，以解决气候、生物地球化学、环境变化和构造学中的变革性和跨学科问题。具体的研究课题包括：1)新的过渡金属同位素测量，如铁、锌和镉作为海洋金属循环的示踪剂；2)了解如何利用同位素和微量元素示踪剂来了解过去的气候变化与过去的海洋生物生产力、深海环流以及大陆干旱和水文模式之间的关系；3)利用铀系列测年的新方法扩大地质年代学的研究能力；4)使用碳酸盐中的硼和钕同位素测量来重建海洋和大气循环的变化以及海水的pH值历史。由早期职业生涯和经验丰富的教师组成的多样化团队以及他们的学生将使用这种仪器来改变我们对地球在表面(生物圈、水圈和大气层)和深度(岩石圈)运行方式的理解。我们打算让大量的本科生和研究生使用最先进的仪器进行尖端的STEM培训，通过研究经验和高影响力的教学机会，提供使用洁净室实验室技术和质谱仪操作的动手培训。该奖项为购买激光烧蚀多收集器电感耦合等离子质谱仪系统(LA-MC-ICPMS)提供资金，该系统将安装在德克萨斯A&M大学的肯·威廉姆斯放射性同位素地球科学实验室。MC-ICPMS仪器包括一个电感耦合等离子体源、一个磁扇区质量分析器和一个允许同时测量多个同位素的多个探测器阵列。这种静态同位素比值测量的精度远远高于单收集器ICPMS连续同位素测量的精度。激光烧蚀(LA)是一种广泛使用的采样方法，用于对难以消化的固体样品进行原位ICPMS分析，或者在这些样品中，采样微域内的空间关系的分辨率至关重要。激光系统包括产生稳定信号和可重现的消融效果所必需的Helex样品室。该仪器将由一个跨学科的研究人员小组使用，以解决气候、生物地球化学、环境变化和构造学方面的问题。主要研究人员项目将侧重于1)新的过渡金属同位素测量作为海洋金属循环的示踪剂；2)了解同位素和微量元素示踪剂如何用于了解过去的气候变化与过去的海洋生物生产力、深海环流、大陆干旱和水文学模式之间的关系；3)利用分流ICPMS的“岩石年代学”新方法扩大地质年代学研究能力，并为高精度U-Pb测年对锆石进行痕量元素筛选；4)对深海珊瑚中的U/Th测年和硼同位素测量，以重建海洋通风和海水酸碱度历史；5)利用ND同位素作为海洋和大气循环的示踪剂。

This award provides funding for the acquisition of a new state of the art Laser Ablation Multi-Collector Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer system (LA-MC-ICPMS) to be incorporated into the expanding Ken Williams Radiogenic Isotope Geosciences Laboratory at Texas A&M University. The instrumentation will be used by an interdisciplinary group of researchers across Texas A&M University, the International Ocean Discovery Program, Texas A&M Corpus Christi, and Texas A&M University Galveston to address transformative and interdisciplinary questions in climate, biogeochemistry, environmental change, and tectonics. Specific research topics include: 1) novel transition metal isotope measurements such as iron, zinc, and cadmium as a tracer of oceanic metal cycling; 2) understanding how isotope and trace element tracers can be used to understand the relationship between past climate change and past oceanic biological productivity, deep-ocean circulation, and patterns of continental aridity and hydrology; 3) expanding geochronology research capabilities using new methods in uranium series dating; 4) using boron and neodymium isotope measurements in carbonates to reconstruct oceanic and atmospheric circulation changes and seawater pH histories. The diverse team of early career and experienced faculty along with their students will use this instrumentation to transform our understanding of the way our planet works at the surface (biosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere) and at depth (lithosphere). We intend to engage large numbers of undergraduate and graduate students in cutting-edge STEM training using state-of-the-art instrumentation through both research experiences and high-impact teaching opportunities that provide hands on training in the use of clean room laboratory techniques and in the operation of the mass spectrometer.This award provides funding for the acquisition of a Laser Ablation Multi-Collector Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer system (LA-MC-ICPMS) to be housed in the Ken Williams Radiogenic Isotope Geosciences Laboratory at Texas A&M University. The MC-ICPMS instrument comprises an ICP source, a magnetic sector mass analyzer, and an array of multiple detectors that allows for the simultaneous measurement of multiple isotopes. This static isotope ratio measurement results in a precision far superior to that obtained by sequential isotope measurement by single collector ICPMS. Laser ablation (LA) is a widely used sampling method for in-situ ICPMS analyses of solid samples that are either difficult to digest or where resolution of spatial relationships within sampled micro-domains is critical. The laser system includes the HelEx sample chamber necessary to produce stable signals and reproducible ablation effects. The instrumentation will be used by an interdisciplinary group of researchers to address questions in climate, biogeochemistry, environmental change, and tectonics. Principle investigator projects will focus on 1) novel transition metal isotope measurements as a tracer of oceanic metal cycling; 2) understanding how isotope and trace element tracers can be used to understand the relationship between past climate change and past oceanic biological productivity, deep-ocean circulation, and patterns of continental aridity and hydrology; 3) expanding geochronology research capabilities using new methods for "petrochronology" by split-stream ICPMS and trace-element screening of zircons for high-precision U-Pb dating; 4) U/Th dating and boron isotope measurements in deep-sea corals to reconstruct ocean ventilation and seawater pH histories; 5) Nd isotopes as a tracer of oceanic and atmospheric circulation.